Weapons charges dropped in Sturgis rally case
7:27 AM
Posted: Tuesday, November 18, 2008
RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) -- A judge has ordered that concealed weapons charges be dropped against four off-duty Washington police officers who were charged in a shooting at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
The judge says Scott Lazalde, Dennis McCoy, James Rector and Ron Smith are exempt from prosecution under South Dakota state law because of the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act.
However, a concealed weapons charge against fellow biker Erik Pingel of Aurora, Colo., can proceed. Pingel is a fireman.
All five men are members of the Iron Pigs motorcycle club. They were arrested in a Sturgis bar after a fight with Hells Angels.
A Hells Angel was shot in the scuffle.
The judge says Scott Lazalde, Dennis McCoy, James Rector and Ron Smith are exempt from prosecution under South Dakota state law because of the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act.
However, a concealed weapons charge against fellow biker Erik Pingel of Aurora, Colo., can proceed. Pingel is a fireman.
All five men are members of the Iron Pigs motorcycle club. They were arrested in a Sturgis bar after a fight with Hells Angels.
A Hells Angel was shot in the scuffle.
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DakotaCowboy wrote on Nov 18, 2008 8:46 AM:
A waste of taxpayers money. "